How to Optimize Your Website for Voice & Mobile Search: SEO Tips for Small Business Owners

May 28

Written By Boss Life

What is Voice Search?

If you're running a business, especially a local one, you need people to find you when they say things like:

“Where’s the best pizza near me?”
“Call a plumber open now.”
“What time does the bakery close?”

That’s voice search and most of it happens on phones.

Whether you have an existing website, looking to build a new site for your business or are searching for an SEO service to help you, keep reading and I will show you how to get your website ready for potential customers who rely on voice search to find what they need online.

Why Voice and Mobile SEO Matter

Interesting Stats:

There are more than 5.9 million Google searches happening each minute
Over 60% of Google searches come from mobile devices in the U.S.
50% of the U.S. population uses voice search over typing each day to find what they want online

Source: Semrush

And get this, searchers who use voice are more likely to buy something right after.

What Is Voice Search Optimization?

Voice search is when people talk to Siri, Alexa, Google, Cortana, or other voice assistants. They ask full questions like:

“What’s the best Thai food near me that delivers?” or “Where’s the best daycare in [city]

So, your website needs to be optimized to “talk back” to them in a natural way.

To do that:

Use simple, clear words in the content on your site. Just imagine yourself having a conversation with a friend and use the same natural words and phrases you would use when talking to real people in the content on your webpages.
Write like you're answering a question. Just imagine what you would say if a friend asked where he or she can find the best pizza shop that delivers or pretend your customer is asking Siri the same question. As the pizza shop owner who wants to be found, you would write your response in your content as if answering your friend or Siri in real time.
Focus on longer phrases, full sentences and questions rather than just one-word keywords. People speak in phrases and sentences. Mimic the same tendency in your content. By optimizing your pages with these phrases and natural language, you’ll set yourself up to be included among the voice search results.

Benefits of Voice Search Optimization

In addition to improving your online presence and making your site easier for voice assistants to find, you’ll also enjoy the following benefits of optimizing for voice search:

Spreading the word. Having your content shared by voice assistants means more brand awareness in your community. More people near your location will know you exist so they can visit your store, place orders and convert.
Trust Builder. Providing valuable information through voice search will help you build trust and authority with your customers and Google.
Improved user experience. Adapting to voice search optimization will improve the technical elements of your site and lead to a better user experience which is an invaluable benefit particularly for small businesses
Many websites have not yet embraced voice search optimization, so this will allow you to surpass your competitors in ways unknown to them.

Mobile Search

Mobile search is a search query a user undertakes on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. As a small business owner, this means optimizing your site to make it mobile ready is critical in order to be discovered online by mobile users. This is where mobile-first indexing comes in.

What Is Mobile-First Indexing?

This happens when search engines like Google use the mobile version of your website’s content for indexing. Simply put, this means the mobile site with all of its content will be crawled, analyzed, stored, and organized into the Google database for quick retrieval in the search results.

Why Mobile-First Indexing Matters?

Back in 2023, Google adapted to the reality that most internet users use mobile devices for web searchers by looking at the version of your mobile site first, more so than the desktop version. As a result if your site isn't optimized for mobile, it may not perform well in the search results or even show up there. Similarly, if your mobile site is slow, broken, or hard to read Google won’t rank it well.

Here’s what that means for you:

Your site must look good on phones
It needs to load fast
The buttons you use on your site should be easy to tap for a good user experience

How to Optimize Your Site for Voice & Mobile

Let’s keep it simple. Here’s what I do for every small biz client:

1. Use Questions as Keywords

People ask things like:

“How much does lawn care cost?”
“Is there a vegan bakery near me?”
“Can I book a massage online?”

Add these Q&As to your site! I like to use a section called “People Also Ask” or “FAQs.”

2. Write in a Natural Voice

If you were explaining your service to a neighbor, how would you say it?

Bad:

"We specialize in high-quality HVAC repair services."

Better:

"We fix heaters and air conditioners fast same-day service available!"

3. Make Sure Your Site Is Mobile-Friendly

Here’s a quick test:

Open your website on your phone
Does it load in 3 seconds or less?
Can you read it without zooming?
Can you click the phone number?

If not, it’s time for a mobile tune-up.

4. Use Local Words

Most voice searches are local. Add things like:

Your city or neighborhood
“Near me” in page titles
Driving directions or landmarks

Example:

“Our bakery in Orlando is just 2 blocks from Lake Eola Park.”

5. Add a Google Business Profile

It’s free, and it helps you show up when people ask things like:

“Coffee shop open now”
“Dentist near me with good reviews”

Make sure your hours, address, and phone number are always correct.

Final Thoughts About Optimizing Your Website for Voice and Mobile Search

Voice and mobile search aren’t just the future they’re now. And they’re how your customers are finding businesses just like yours.

Start small. Answer real questions. Make your site easy to use on a phone. That’s it.

If you ever get stuck or want help, I’m just a click away at seobyboss.com.

Let’s get your business found even when your customers are talking, not typing.

Interested in learning more useful SEO tips and strategies tailored for small businesses? Keep reading the SEO for Small Business Blog or choose a done-for-you SEO package and let’s work together.

Boss Life